Ag panel pulls back on farm bill

With the Senate nearing passage of its farm bill, the House Agriculture Committee abruptly pulled back Wednesday from its long-planned markup next week, amid signs that House Republican leaders want a pause to consider how to proceed this summer.

House Chairman Frank Lucas (R-Okla.) told POLITICO that he will move “hell or high water” on a farm bill when lawmakers return after the July 4th recess. But he confirmed the change in plans, which came after discussions with Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.).

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Cantor’s involvement is an ominous sign for farm bill advocates, but his aides insisted that the Virginia Republican was not saying “no” to any House farm bill this summer. Instead, they said the majority leader wanted to “push the pause button” and allow time for some assessment of the political situation.

Indeed, top House Republicans appear caught by surprise by the progress made in the Senate on its farm bill, having assumed it would collapse amid the typical partisan fighting. Instead a deal was reached Monday night allowing for orderly votes, and the measure has steadily advanced to a point where Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) predicted passage will be completed Thursday.

The crop insurance industry suffered a series of setbacks in narrow votes Wednesday. But in both cases, the results add to the “reform” image boasted by proponents. And the bill now boasts over $24 billion in 10-year savings and on a 59-40 vote Wednesday, it rolled over a conservative attempt to recommit it to committee.

Lucas said the changed House schedule is driven too by the fact that floor debate is scheduled next week on a $19.4 billion Agriculture Department appropriations bill that touches on farm programs. After his meeting with Cantor, the chairman agreed that it made sense then to have his committee members on the floor in what could become a preview of the whole farm bill debate.

“Many antagonists from both ends of the spectrum will go after it,” Lucas told POLITICO. “They’ll view the Ag appropriations bill as a miniature farm bill. I’m of the opinion that the Agriculture Committee has to be all hands on deck to work with the appropriators.”

“It’s my hope that we will move shortly after we come back” after the holiday, Lucas said. “You can say that the chairman indicated come hell or high water the Agriculture Committee will do its work.”

While Lucas has always bet himself on Senate passage, he sees major shortcomings to the safety net the Senate bill provides for farmers, especially from the South.

In a brief interview, he said he is confident that pressure will build for House floor action, but as the chairman, he also feels compelled to produce a bill that can stand as an alternative five-year plan.

“If I don’t do my work, the only document that exists is the Senate-passed bill,” Lucas told POLITICO. “Then I’m leaving a bunch of people exposed for the next five years, and I will not let that happen.”